What the Patriots' roster will look like by tomorrow at 4

With the mandatory NFL 53 man rosters going into effect by 4 pm tomorrow, the Patriots are forced to cut 27 guys from their current 80 man roster. They got started today cutting 8 players headlined by defensive lineman Darryl Richard and Brown grad WR Buddy Farnham, both practice team members last year and could easily land on the practice squad again if they clear waivers. From the remaining 72 players I am going to pick out the 53 I think will stick going from position to position. The players will be listed in order on my depth chart so the starter will be the first name then his backup...etc.

QB(3)- Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett

- Hoyer beats out Mallett for the backup job based strictly on experience as the rookie had the better arm but still is learning the offense and how to play in the NFL.

RB(4)-Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley

- The tough cut here would be Sammy Morris who is nothing but a professional but especially after suffering a concussion in last night's preseason finale, seems unlikely to take up a roster spot. Expect veteran Kevin Faulk to be placed on PUP until week 7.

WR(6)- Wes Welker, Chad Ochocinco, Randy Moss, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater

- Curly's favorite player Brandon Tate is the odd man out here as his kick returner role is less important with the new rules preventing run backs 40% of the time. Slater out performed him as a receiver and is a big special teams player and received praise from Coach Belichick after the game. Oh yeah and that isn't a typo I am predicting Randy Moss to be with the Patriots team by opening day against the Dolphins. It was reported that Moss was playing golf at a local course in Bellingham, MA which borders Foxboro. When asked by fellow players what he was doing here, Moss responded " I'm here on business" . I'll give you a hint...he isn't here to help Bill O'Brien call the plays. In a suprising move, Belichick cuts Branch who has had a weak camp and brings in Moss.

TE(3)- Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Will Yeatman

- No surprises here as Yeatman beat out fifth round pick Lee Smith who could end up on injured reserve

OT(4)- Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Steve Maneri

- All the suspense here was gone as soon as Mark Levoir was cut

G/C(5)- Dan Koppen, Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Andre Gurode

- Another prediction of an outside move as Rich Ohrnberger gets the axe and Gurode is brought in as is being reported. Should make for some interesting practices this year with Gurode's history with our model citizen fat Albert...

Defense

DT(5) - Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Gerard Warren, Kyle Love, Myron Pryor

- No suspense here

DE(5)- Andre Carter, Shaun Ellis, Jermaine Cunningham, Mike Wright, Mark Anderson

- Anderson makes the team after showing what the can do in the beginning of the pre season before getting hurt. This leaves Eric Moore on the outside looking in but he certainly will find work elsewhere quickly

LB(6)- Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton, Dane Fletcher, Rob Ninkovich, Tracey White - White is a big special teams player while Ninkovich and Fletcher provide great depth while also contributing on special teams

CB(5)- Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling, Antwuan Molden-

- Claiming Molden on waivers was a nice way of saying that Darius Butler can't play as the fifth corner in this league. Look for him to catch on somewhere else and contribute

S(4)- Pat Chung, Brandon Meriweather, Sergio Brown, James Ihedigbo

- Josh Barrett is the surprise cut here as he may have started to see what he could do with the first team defense and I have to say i was not that impressed.

Special teams(3)-Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, James Dearth

- No surprises here after Matt Katula was cut as I predicted in my first run at this

Pats have busy day in trade market, bring in Haynesworth and Ochocinco

So are Patriots fans still complaining about a lack of a splash in the accelerated free agency period since the new CBA was signed? Yeah, I didn't think so. The Patriots woke everyone up with a bang with the announcement of trading a 2013 5th round pick to the Redskins for DT "Fat" Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth comes with his share of baggage with quite the "rap sheet" including a trial next month over feeling up a waitress with his credit card. Hey, we've all be there Albert. Fat Albert is a total win/win for the Pats as Washington, who signed him to a seven year 100+million dollar deal two summers ago but only played 20 games in two seasons for the Skins. He clashed with head coach Mike Shanahan and it go to the point where Washington dealt this headache away for a fifth round pick while paying all of the guaranteed money on his contract. I love this move for the Pats. You can listen to Felger and Mazz on 98.5 reading off his offenses since he joined the league. Yeah, yeah he gets angry and doesn't want to pay child support. He is a shitty human being for sure, but thankfully we only have to give a crap about how he performs on the field. Yes he need to stay out of jail but the guy doesn't need to be my best friend for me to root for him on the field. I think the line of Warren-Wilfork-Haynesworth has offensive lines hating their lives and Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes licking their chops. Mayo is gonna have 4000 tackles this year and just be lighting people up. The Patriots still need a solid OLB behind Jermaine Cunningham and Rob Ninkovich but it will be alot easier for them with this mammoth line along with DT Mike Wright, DT/DEMyron Pryor and DT/DE Brandon Deadrick coming off the bench.

Then if that moves wasn't enough for you, the Patriots have reportedly traded for WR Chad Ochocinco in exchange for two draft picks going to the Bengals. This is another win/win move as Ochocinco is always in great shape and gives the Patriots a legitimate quick, explosive wide receiver. Ochocinco also has agreed to restructure the three years left on his contract to fit the Patriots cap. This has to have the whole offense smiling from Brady to Wes Welker who can exploit the slot all season with Branch and Ochocinco on the outside. Yeah, yeah the Jets might have two shutdown corners but then you got Welker in the slot and the two young TE's(Gronk and Hernandez) running up the seem against Bart Scott. I like that matchup everyday and twice on Sunday. Now all fans are going to react way too hard and think this seals up the SB while the media will bash both guys for their off-the-field issues. The ideal way to look at it is somewhere inbetween the two. The guys are solid players with potential to be great on this team if they work hard can be special players on a special team. Sure they could be hitting up strip clubs in Providence all year long but usually players who are ringless this late in their career just want to win and will do what it takes. They will buy into the "Patriots way" and prove the critics and their former teams wrong while they are at it. I love these acquisitions now let's play some football!